Series capacitor protection



Dec. 29, 1953 E. J. DlEBoLD 2,664,525

SERIES CAPACITOR PROTECTION Filed Feb. 16, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet l *a 7.50 7a 3500 K E c'o/vsr/i/vr Perf/www Teams/afval? o. 6. EXC/774770 51 70a ran/vs A 3000*"- 32 fun/ER 60H6 500 7W Pn s/n'd 31 34 rmwvsfamvee 2, zo, ooo rue/vs .6.2 uf az ,af

f \zf Dec. 29, '1953 E. J. DlEBoLD SERIES CAPACITOR PROTECTION 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 16, 1950 Form/v0 INVENTOR .25g/v .D/ea aa Dec. 29, 1953 E. J. DIEBOLD 2,564,525

SERIES CAPACITOR PROTECTION Filed Feb. 16, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Cams/wur Pore/WML rM/vsfonmv 75- 0.6. 7; Exc/74270# 1N V EN TOR. zy Forum; Jam. /a up B Y frE.. 5.

Dec. 29, 1953 E. J. DIEBOLD SERIES CAPACITOR PROTECTION Filed Feb. 16, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

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Dec. 29, 1953 E. J. DIEBOLD 2,664,525 SERIES CAPACITOR PROTECTION Filed Feb. 16, 195o 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 rra-7-11- ff .SQP/6s cnf/vara@ 1 7900 K L/NE;

E 750 70 3500K M IN VEN TOR. cow/wa fa/w /faaa Patented Dec. 29, 1953 SERIES CAPACITOR PROTECTION Edward John Diebold, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to I-T-E Circuit Breaker Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application February 16, 1950, Serial N o. 144,571 7 Claims. (Cl. 317-12) My invention relates to a series capacitor protective system and more specifically relates to novel circuit arrangements for loi-passing a series capacitor during fault current conditions in a power line when the fault current reaches pre determined values.

As is well known in the art, series capacitors connected in power lines for power factor correction are subjected to the danger of failure of the dielectric of the capacitor due to the voltage where (e) is the voltage appearing across the capacitor (c) when a fault current condition (i) occurs on the line.

A capacitor is usually designed to carry a predetermined excess above a normal full load current to allow for a reasonable factor of safety. However, the required volume of the dielectric of the capacitor varies as the square of the current, and accordingly the allowable factor of safety is limited well below the values of possible fault currents that may flow in the system if the capacitor is not to be made too bulky and costly.

Accordingly it has been the practice to introfduce a bi-pass circuit around the capacitor which 'is normally open. This bi-pass circuit is closed r.only when the current in the power line reaches rsuch fault current values that the voltage developed across the capacitor would rupture the dielectric if permitted to iiow through the ca- .paciton In accordance with my invention, I provide a spark gap which is connected across the capacitor. So long as the current in the main line is below a predetermined value, the bi-pass circuit is maintained open at the spark gap. When, however, the current amplitude approaches the Apower line.

In carrying out my invention, I provide a pair of electrodes connected across the capacitor which are normally open circuited. A pulse applied at these electrodes when fault conditions occur at the capacitor effect a break down between these electrodes to provide a bi-pass circuit around the capacitor.

Accordingly, a further object of my invention is to provide novel circuit arrangement for producing voltage pulses output in response to a fault current input.

My novel system requires for its operation, a constant current output. Inasmuch as the available source of supply is the main current with its variable current flow and variable potential across the capacitor, I have provided a novel circuit for producing from this available source, a constant current supply.

Accordingly, still a further object of my invention is to provide a novel circuit arrangement for producing a constant current output.

Other objects of my invention will be apparent from the detailed description of the invention which follows, taken in connection with the drawings, in which Figure 1 is a circuit diagram of a preferred form of my invention;

Figure 2 is a hysteresis curve of the magnetic core employed in connection with my invention;

Figure 3 shows a voltage and current curve across the capacitor in the main current;

Figure 4 shows the voltage distribution of the voltage cl2 between windings 5| and 53 (Fig. 1) during each cycle;

Figure 5 shows the current wave in windings 5i and 53';

Figure 6 shows the corresponding flux in winding 5l;

Figure 7 shows the biasing and superimposed current in transformers 30 and 3l Figure 8 shows the pulse produced when the load current reaches fault value;

Figure 9 is a schematic circuit diagram of a modied form of the spark gap circuit;

Figure 10 is a still further modified form in which gas tubes are used;

Figure 1l is a still further nio-dined form in which the gas tubes are employed.

Referring now to Figure 1, a power line i l, one phase of which is shown here for purpose of illustration, is provided with a power factor correcting series capacitor l2. The line extends from some source of power (not shown) to a load (also not shown) through a schematically shown circuit breaker I4 having the usual trip coil I5.

The voltage developed across the series capacitor varies with the current flowing in the line in accordance with the relation co6 Capacitor l2 is designed to withstand voltages appearing across the condenser up to values determined by currents up to full load.

As is well known in the art, when a fault current iiows the protective circuit breaker I4 is operated by the fault current responsive magnet I5 to open the circuit. However, during the short interval before the circuit breaker can open the line (several cycles in a 6-0 cycle system), the fault current generates a voltage across capacitor I2 sufficient to rupture the dielectric.

The present invention is directed to a circuit arrangement which is responsive to a fault current to instantaneously prevent such fault current from flowing through the capacitor and developing a rupturing voltage. To this end there is connected across the capacitor, ka circuit including a conductor I5, `a resistor I'I, a spark gap I8, blow out coil I9, and conductor 2|. The spark gap I9 in this circuit comprises the electrodes 22 and 23, each having connected thereto arcing horns 24 and 25. interposed between the main arcing electrodes 22 and 23 is an auxiliary electrode 25.

The spark gap I8 normally provides an open circuit rendering the bi-pass normally ineffective so that under normal load conditions in the main line I I, the load current ows through the series capacitor I2. As will be explained hereinafter, this by-pass is automatically instantaneously closed under control of auxiliary electrode 26 when the current in the main line reaches fault current values. Y

The auxiliary electrode 29 isV connected over a conductor 27 to the secondary windings 28 and 29 of the step-up transformers 30 and 3| respectively. Y The core of these transformers is of a very soft magnetic material with low magnetizing current. This type of rea'ctance described in Bulletin #4809 of the I. T. E. Circuit Breaker Co. entitled Mechanical Rectiers has, as -is well y known, a high impedance while the ux in the magnetic core is varying and has a negligible impedance when the core is saturated, i. e., when l no iiux variation occurs. This core material has a hysteresis loop characteristic with a steep front and saturates at a relatively low current valueV as shown in Figure 2. As will appear hereinafter, advantage is taken of this characteristic of this type of reactor with the core material which is truly saturable for a predetermined low current flow in the windings to produce a voltage pulse in breaking down the gap only when fault current conditions exist.

The main arcing electrodes 22 and 23 are connected through capacitors 24 and 25 respectively to the opposite terminals of the secondary 29 of transformer 3|.

As will be explained hereinafter, when normal load current conditions obtain on the power line II, the voltage across the main electrodes 22, 23 of the spark gap is insuflicient to effect a breakdown of the gap and therefore the spark gap provides an open circuit and no voltage is included in the secondaries 28, 29 to produce a breakdown between either of the electrodes 22, 23 and the auxiliary electrode 26. When, however', at any instant in any cycle, a current above a predetermined value, i. e. a fault current, is flowing inthe power line I I, a pulse voltage is induced in either secondary 28 or 29 (depending on the polarity of the cycle) sufficient to bring the voltage of the auxiliary electrode 26 to a value at which it breaks down between electrode 22 or 23 and current then flows over the circuit including the spark gap and the secondaries 23 and 29.

The manner in which one of the secondaries 23 or 29 is energized to prevent a breakdown voltage at 26 only when a fault current occurs in the main line is achieved by biasing the transformers 3i) and 3| to saturation. It will be noted that connected across the conductors I5 and 2| is a circuit including a resistor 3| and the primary windings 32 and 33 of the transformers 3| and 30. These transformers, in addition to the primary windings `32 and 33 and secondary windings 29 and 28 (of greater number of turns) are provided with auxiliary biasing windings Sli and 35 respectively.

As will be explained more fully hereinafter, there normally flows in the auxiliary biasing windings 3d and 35, a constant direct current. Such a constant current may be secured in any of a number of well known means such as a battery supply. In the present illustration, I secure this biasing current by energy delivered at a constantY rate taken from voltage drop across capacitor l2 for the full range of potentials across this capacitor.

As stated hereinbefore, the core of the transformers 30 and 3| is made of a special steel known as Perrneron core, fully described in the Bulletin mentioned above. This special core material has a hysteresis loop characteristic such as shown in Figure 2, in which at low current values the iiux change is steep. The core becomes saturated at relatively low current values and thereafter further changes in current result in no further change in nux.

By reason of the bias provided by the current flowing through the biasing windings 3d and 35, the normal flux in the core of transformers 39 and 3| is at the saturated point llI, Fig. 2.

The current therefore owing over vthe circuit from conductors I6 to 2| through the primary windings 32 and 33 is determined by the voltage across capacitor I2 and the resistance of resistor 3 I. As the load current in line I I fluctuates from no to full load, the voltage across capacitor I2 iluctuates correspondingly and the current flowing through windings 32 and 33 fluctuates over a maximum range from a cyclic swing to just either side of 4| (Fig. 2) to a maximum swing from 132 to 43. Accordingly such current variations as occur in the main line |`I from no load through full load because it does not extend beyond @.2 (Fig. 2') result in no change in the flux of the transformers 30 and 3| and therefore normally no voltage will be induced in the secondary windings 28 and 29 as pointed out above.

At the instant, however, that the current in the main line reaches dangerous fault current values, the current oscillations in the primary windings 32 and 33 will extend beyond points 42 to, for example, d5. In this range, the flux variation in the core beginning at thecurrent value 26 changes rapidly to the point 4l and as a result of this steep curved change in flux, a voltage pulse of short duration (.001 second) of high voltage (50,000) is induced in the secondary windings 28 or 29, depending on the polarity of the wave at the instant. This induced voltage pulse in conductor 21 is suflicien't to eifect break-down at the auxiliary electrode 25 of the spark gap iii.

The break-down of the spark gap between either main electrode 22, 23 and the auxiliary electrode 25 results in ionization of the spark gap between the main electrodes 22 and 2S resulting in a break-down across the main electrodes 22 and 2S and the current from the main line l l thereupon flows over the circuit, including the conductors it, resistor I (which prevents short circuit conditions at this instant), spark gap I 8, blow out coil is and conductor 2i, bypassing series capacitor I E.

In this manner, the fault current is provided with a by-pass circuit at the instant in a cycle when the fault current condition occurs and the series capacitor It is protected. Resistor il, and in fact, 'this entire by-pass circuit, has a much lower impedance than capacitor i2 that substantially all the excess or iault current hows in this icy-pass thus proven ng development of any excess or dangerous voltage drop across capacitor l2.

The current will continue to flow in this bypass circuit so long in each cycle as the fault current values are dangerously high. When in a cycle, the current approaches and passes through zero, the voltage may drop below the value necessary to maintain the arc across gap 22, 23 and the arc is extinguished. rf'his may occur in each cycle as the current approaches zero but the arc will be reignited in the succeeding cycle if the fault current is still present. After several cycles, the circuit breaker i4 opens the line. in this manner, the lay-pass circuit is automatically brought into operation when a fault occurs and is promptly opened when normal current conditions obtain.

It will he understood, as illustrated in the drawing, that the biasing windings 34 and 35 are reversed in direction with respect to each other so as to have their respective transformers 3l and iiii energized in opposed half cycles. Accordingly, ir" the fault occurs during the positive half of a cycle, the transformer 3l, for example, hec nies energized in the manner described alcove, and if the fault occurs during the negative half of the cycle, the transformer Sil in this illustration becomes energized.

In the circuit arrangement here shown, one terminal of winding 2e is connected to electrodes 22, En order to prevent a short circuit between electrodes E2, 53, capacitors 24 and 25 are provided.

From the above, it will now be clear that the generations of a voltage to bre .i down the arc gap only in response to a iault current in the rnain line depends cn the iluX cias in the core of the transformer' 3l to a point di (Fig. 2) on the hysteresis loop where the transformer core is so saturated that the cycle swing of the oure rent in the primary winding over a ruil range of current in the main line from no load to at least full load. rhis bias is achieved by the oonstant currenIV- flow in biasing windings 34, 35.

Referring now to the circ it arrangement for achieving a constant voltage and therefore constant biasing current for the biasing windings ici and In?, I have connected across the conductors le and 2 l, a circuit including the primary winding 5i or a transformer having a core material similar to that described in connection with transformers tt and t l. Connected in series with the primary winding 5| is an inductance 53.

The voltage across capacitor i2, eiz appears across this circuit 53' including inductance 5l and and may be expressed as follows:

is=Lsslg+s1 (l) The current iiowing in this reactance circuit lags behind the voltage by inasmuch as the core of transformer 52 is of Permeron, having a saturation characteristic curve such as shown in Figure 2, it will become saturated at a predetermined current value in each cycle.

When the load current is small, the current value at which core saturation occurs is reached relatively late in each cycle. When the load current is large, the same current value in that cycle when core saturation occurs is reached relatively early in each cycle.

During the period of each cycle when the core of transformer 52 is saturated, it presents substantially zero impedance to the voltage source and all the voltage of the source eis appears across the inductance 53 which hasI een inserted to prevent a short circuit during this period in each Cycle when the transformer core is saturated.

During the remaining period of each cycle when the transformer core is unsaturated, it presents an innite impedance to the voltage due to the high rate of change of ux. All the voltage then appears across inductance 5| but due to the high impedance, there is substantially zero current owing in this circuit.

In Figures e, 5 and 6, the voltage, current and ux waves above described are shown. In Figure 4, the full line Gi represents the voltage which appears across the winding 5i. It will 'ce noted that froro` $2 to t3, the voltage across winding 5i is zero due to the fact that during this portion of the cycle, the current which is 90 out of phase with the voltage, is at its peak and so is the fi Accordingly, the core is saturated and the winding 5l impedance is Zero. The current flowing in the circuit during this interval is shown at (i4, 65 (Fig. 5) and the saturating flux at (Fig. 6). During this period, all the voltage ajopears across 5.3 and is shown by the dash line As the current approaches its zero value as at 55 (Fig. 6) which corresponds to value :l in the hysteresis curve (Fig. 2), the ux collapses almost instantaneously and with further in current builds up in the opposite direction shown by the line 87 (Fig. 6) which corresponds to 56, 41 on the hysteresis loop (Fig. 2).

During this rapid change in the iniped ance across winding til is very high corn to the impedance oi inductance 53 and i l voltage drop of ein is across winding El. shown at 'Il- 1.2, Fig. Li.

During this period, the current is substantial ly zero or very slightly above zero, due to the infinite impedance of winding 5E. This is shown at 65-l3. During this period of the cycle, while the current remains at the saine value, 46-47 in Fig. 2 and 55-73 in 5, the iiux is reversed as at 67 (Fig. 6).

With the core again saturated ft 55. acta-nce of winding 5l is substan v the voltage there drops to l.

This can also he explained mathematically as follows: During the non-saturated eriod of core 52 all of the voltage eis is applied to the winde This ing 5i. The voltage across cfrv rosy then he stated as do 651=Ndt10`8 (2) accesar,

in which Y esi is the voltage across winding 5.1

N is the number of turns in winding 5| I is the flux in core 52;

From Equation 2 follows:

e51dt= -N 1 0-8de (3) Integrating both sides t fitter: N-f 2de (4) s l max 1|". fen

0; is a constant for all values of current in the main line.

Equation 6' demonstrates that the average voltage-time area during each half cycle appearing across winding 5| is constant and depends only on the magnetic characteristics of the transformer 52. Therefore, the average value of the rectiiied output voltage of transformer 53 (i. e. the D. C. voltage in conductor i6) is constant and independent of fluctuations of current and voltage in the main line il.

In the above, a load current of a value suiiicient to generate a predetermined voltage drop across capacitor l2 is required. This lower limit of the voltage drop is attained when the volt age-time area 63, il, 12, 'i6 in Figure e covers the whole half of a cycle. The reactances of transformer 5i and reactor 53' are made such as to have this lower limit coincide with the voltage drop at rated load. As the tripping system is not required to operate below the rated load, thev fact that the bias current is not constant below .that limit becomes immaterial. It can be shown that the bias current below that limit is proportional to the load current.

The transformer 52 is provided with a secondary one terminal of which is connected to a variable resistor 54 and having an opposite terminal connected to a full wave rectifier 55 of well known construction.

The opposite input terminal of the rectifier 55 is connected to the adjusting terminal of the variable resistor. The output circuit of the'full wave rectier is connected to the smoothing condenser 56 and over the circuit including an inductance 51 `to the biasing windings 3s and 3E.

The current flowing in the secondary 53 may be set at any desired value by the setting on the variable resistor 54. Current flowing as a resuit of the voltage induced in the secondary E3- flows, during one-half cycle, through the rectier elements il and 12 and, during the other half-cycle, through elements 13 and 1B.

The rectifier current in the output circuit of this rectifier is smoothed by the capacitor 55 and inductance 51 and accordingly an output is obtained across terminals 'i5 and i6 which is of substantially constant voltage and constant current and biases the windings 3Q and 35 to saturate the cores thereof to a xed point 4I (Fig. 2) irrespective of uctuations in the main line.

From the above, the operations will now be clear. When normal load currents ow over the line li,v uctuating voltages appear across the series capacitor i2 in accordance with the fluctuating currents in the conductor H. These vfluctuating voltages will, however, so energize the transformer 52 as to produce a constant output voltage in the secondary 53 which constant voltage in this circuit will cause a constant bias,- ing current to flow through the biasing windings Sli and 35 of the transformers si and 3Q respectively.

This biasing current will bias the transformers 3i and 3i) to a saturated flux value al (Fig. 2). At this flux saturation, the normal load current alternations iiowing through the primary windings 32 and 35 will produce no ux change in either transformers 3d or 32.

In Figure 7, the biasing current in flowing in the winding 34 is shown as a constant value. superimposed therein is the current 1'32 flowing in winding 32. The current for just saturating the core is shown by the dash line 80. It will be observed that the superimposed current isz normally does not extend beyond this saturated value and accordingly no change in the iiux in the transformer occurs.

When during any cycle, however, the current amplitude varies beyond the above prescribed limits, a flux change beyond tie value at et (Fig. 2) will occur in either transformer 3u or 3l depending upon whether the change occurred during the positive or negative half of the cycle. This is also shown by the current 2'32 crossing the saturation value 8l) at 8l Fig. 7.

As a result of the sudden change of flux in the respective transformer core, the corresponding secondary 29 or 28 of the transformers 3l and 3| will be energized and a pulse voltage E29 (Fig. 8) Will appear at the auxiliary electrode 252 suicient to break down the arc of the spark gap I8 providing thereby a loi-pass circuit around the capacitor l2. This arc is now maintained at a relatively low e12 voltage. Near the end of the cycle. however, the voltage as it approaches zero at the spark gap electrodes 22 and 23. 2S will extinguish the spark gap and the bi-pass for the capacitor l2 is reopened. If in the subsequent cycle, however, the same fault current condition still obtains, the above described cycle of operations will again be repeated.

While I have described a preferred form o my invention, it will be clear that the invention may be carried out with other current arrangements coming within the scope of the present invention. Thus, although I have shown a switching circuit which is electro-magnetically operated during each half cycle, I may within the spirit of my invention, trigger on one-haii cycle either positive or negative and thereby save one of the two transformers 32 or 33.

In Figure 9, I have shown a rnodiiied form for carrying out my invention in which I utilize the change in reactance of the primary windings .32 and 33 directly for controlling a common transformer 9| to produce the desired pulse at the are gap. When line current reaches fault current values, the change in reactance of the windings 32 and 33, as the core reaches the steep portion of the hysteresis loop, will produce a pulse which induces a pulse voltage in the secondary of the transformer 9| to operate the auxiliary electrode of the spark gap in the manner which has already been described above. In the above, the remaining portions of the system, that is, the means for producing the biasing current through the biasing windings being the same as described in the main modification have not been redescribed here.

In Figure 10, I have shown a further modied form of my invention, in which I use gas tubes in place of the arc gap. Here, as in the iirst embodiment, the transformers 30 and 3i are provided with primary windings and secondary windings and with a biasing winding. The output, however, of the secondary transformer 3| is connected to the control electrode of the gas tube H32. The anode |03 and the cold cathode |04 provide, when a gaseous discharge is completed, a bi-pass circuit around the main line condenser, as will be apparent when the potential applied at |0| is suicient to break down; a gaseous discharge across electrodes |03 and |04 and current lotts around the main line condenser correspondingly in the opposite half cycle, the

control electrode |05 is applied thereto, neces- Sary for breakng down the gas tube |06; a discharge occurs between the electrode |01 and the cold cathode |08 to complete a loi-pass circuit. As in the case of Fig. 1, this discharge will continue so long as the potential on the anode is sumcient to maintain the arc and will be eX- tinguished at the end of the cycle as the voltage goes through zero.

In Figure 1l, I have shown a still further modiication in which I have eliminated the secondary of the transformers and 3|. When there is a voltage drop across the coil due to a fault current and described hereinbefore, a signal will go through the primary winding ||2 of the transformer ||3 and the secondary |4, one terminal of which is connected to control electrode H5, will eiect a breakdown of the discharge tube ||6 between its anode l1 and the cold cathode H8. This occurs during one half cycle and in the event the fault occurs in the other half cycle the coil |2| will eiect energization of primary |22 of transformer |23. The pulse induced in the secondary |24 will thereupon apply a breakdown voltage to the control electrode |25 of the gas tube |26 and eiect a breakdown between the anode |21 and the cold cathode |28.

Although I have shown a preferred arrangement for securing a constant biasing current for windings 34 and 35, I may use any other means for attaining such a current.

While I have shown specific spark gaps which are broken down by a pulse voltage, I may use any other form of spark gap and indeed may, if desired, use gaseous discharge tubes such as ignitrons connecting conductor 21 to the igniting electrodes.

It will also be apparent that for very high voltage systems, I may use several spark gaps or ignitrons in series, each tripped by its own tripping winding in the impulse transformer.

I claim:

1. In a series capacitor protective system for an alternating current circuit having a series capacitor connected therein, a bi-pass circuit around said capacitor including a discharge device having main electrodes and a control electrode for breaking down said discharge device, a reactor having a main winding, said reactor main winding connected in parallel with said series capacitor, a biasing winding connected to bias said reactor to a satui'ating value at whichk the cyclical load currents fiow from said protected circuit does not change the flux in said reactor, the currents from said protected line when they exceed load values producing sudden ux changes in said reactor a secondary winding for said reactor and circuit connection from said secondary winding to said control electrode energized when the ux in said reactor changes for eiecting a. breakdown of said main electrodes to provide a bi-pass circuit through said discharge device around said series capacitor.

2. In an. alternating current circuit for protecting a series capacitor connected in seiies with a line, a spark gap connected aross said capacitor and normally presenting an open circuit, said spark gap including main arcing electrodes and an auxiliary electrode, a, transformer having primary and secondary windings, said secondary winding connected to said spark gap auxiliary electrode and circuit connections including said primary winding connected across said series capacitor, said transformer having a core which becomes saturated at relatively 10W current values and has a steep hysteresis loop characteristic, means i'or normally maintaining said transformer in its saturated range for normal full range of load currents in said line, said primary winding operating said transformer to the iiux changing point oi said transiormer in response to currents in said line aoove a predetermined vaiue for inducing a voitage in said secondary Winding, said secondary winding connection to said spark gap auxiliary eiectrode effecting a break-down oi' said spark gap when said primary winding is energized to points beyond the saturation points oi said transioriner core.

3. In an alternating current system for protecting a series capacitor of an energy-conducting system, a spark gap having a pair oi" main electrodes and an auxiliary electrode interposed between said main electrodes, circuit connections inciuding said spark gap connected in shunt with the series capacitor being protected, a transformer having a primary and a secondary, circuit connections including said primary winding extending across said series capacitor, the voitage across said series capacitor appearing across said primary winding, said transformer having a core material having a hysteresis loop which is saturated by relatively low current and has a steep iiux change characteristic, a biasing winding ior said transformer, means including circuit connections for producing current ow in said biasing winding to bias said transformer to a saturation point at which the normal current iiuctuations in said primary superimposed on said biasing currents maintain the flux in the range of saturation of said transformer core whereby fluctuation in primary cur` rent normally produces no iiuctuations of the flux in the core of said transformer, the flux in said transformer being varied only when the currents in the main line extend beyond said predetermined value and means including circuit connections from the secondary windings of said transformer to said auxiliary electrode for effecting a break-down of said spark gap frnztw I i ifi-,fl 'je the series ieapaitorvbeig -arotetea kva traiA beyond saldpfr f rm edi/aine. Y o former havin'glfaA primary and 'a secondary, f4', ,an 'alternating euri-ent system `for procircuit connections 4including said/primary Wind- ,teetir'iga 'series eapaoitor of an energyconducting extending across said 'series capacitor, "the `ir1g,.systema 'gap having 'a pair of jmain elec- 5 voltage across said series capacitor appearing firQesand van"auiliary electrode 'interposed beacross said primary Winding, "said 'transformer tween-said main electrodes, circuit connections having a core material having a vhysteresis loop ,incltdingfsaidfgapfconnected in'shuntwith the which is saturated Vby 'relatively lo'W 'current series, capacitor being pr tected, a transjiormer and has a steep fluxI change characteristic, a .hayingaprimary and a secondary, circuit conl0 biasing Winding for said transformer, mea'iisvinlneciguns.ncludipgsaid primary vWinding extendcluding circuit connections for producing (cur'- .ing across saidseries capacitonthe vVoltage across rent flow in said biasing winding tobias -said sandV seriescapa or appearing across said pri- Ytransformer toa saturation point'at Which the A transformer having e, core normal current 'iiuctuations in Asaid vprimary material having ahysteresisloop which is satl5 superimposed on'said biasing currents 7maintain ,.uratcdbyrelatiizely low current andinas) 5, steep the iiux inthe range of-'satur'ation oftsaid trans- ,r'riaryl Windina Sal@ ux. change ,cliaracteristid,E)J biasing Winding :for former core whereby fluctuation in primary cursail transformen,meansfineiuding circuit conrent normally produces `no uctuations ofthe enections foriproducing current not( Ain said biasflux in the'coreof said transformer, the fluxin ing windingto bias said transformer todasa't- Z0 said transformer being varied only when the ul-,ation point, 2,1-, ,which the normai current fluecurrents in the mainline extend beyond said-pre- -tuatignsinsaidprirnary superi polseduon's'aid determined value y'and means including circuit ,biasingnurrents maintaiithe inv the range connections fr'omthe s'econdarywindings of said lffulalOn, Ofiadlansormer cure whereby transformer to said E'auxiliary electrodes for .iiuctuationsuin.primary Current vriornialli'y pro- -25 eiecting a break-down of said gas tube'when the ducesrnuuctuations ofthe flux in the vcore of current valuresjin th'ejmain line extend beyond ',said` transformer, the flux innsaid tra'nsformer saidpredetermined value. beingyaried onlywhen the currents in, the main 7. In a circuit iorprotecting a series capacitor lineextendloeyondsaidpredetermined value and connected inseries with aline, lagas tuloelhavmeans ,including circuitA` ,connections from the to ing main electrodes lconnected across saidfcapa'c- ,usecondarywindingsof Ysaid transformer to said iter and normally eres'entinganopen circuit ,auxiliaryelectrode,for effecting a break-down and a control electrode for controlling break- LVcgaidgap,yvlgen the currentyalues in the main down of -said gas tube, va `transformer having line extendbeyond said predetermined i'ralue.v primary and secondary windings, said secondary 5. an alternating current ysystem for p ro- Winding being connected to said gasV tubecontrol tecting,aserieaapacitor or an energy-conductelectrode Aand circuit (connections including "said ing ,s ystenit sparkgaohaying a pairfof Vmain primary winding connected across said??v series `electrodes,oand., anrauxiliary electrode interposed capacitor, said transformer havinga core `Which ,between said main electrodes, circuit connections becomes'saturated at current `yalii'esfaridhas a ,including saidspark gap connected 'in shunt'w'ith 40 steep hysteresis 'loop characteristic, biasing w the series,capacitor.,befngl protected,v a; transmeans for normally kmaintaining said trans- E9 menrhavirig. a primary, ak secondary and an former in -itss'atura'ted range' for Vnormalf'full auxiliary Winding, circuit connections including range of load currents in saidline, saidpri'rnary said primaryv Winding entending across Vsaid winding when"energized in'response to Y' fault eries.cagacit`,or, the Voltage across said series 3; currents Vin said line operatingsaidtransforme'rs acitor 4appearing across nsaid primary Windto the'flux changing point of'said transformers ,nugmsaaid ztra;isfjiormer 4ligar/jing; a core material forfinducing a" voltage Yin said secondary, said YAYhailing ashysteresisfloop which is saturated'at secondary connection to 'said' gas tube control normal currentvyalues flowing in the main lsyselectrode'eiecting'a breakdown -of=s`aid gas 'tube j eansn including. circuit connections 'for 5.@ main electrodesfwhen saidfprimary Winding is Ygeneratiiigf l currents in said V auxiliaryl Winding to energized te points beyond the saturation points :b s saicl transformer to alsaturation 'point at of said transformer core.

1c A,the ,normal current fluctuaties superim- "EDWARD'JOHN DIEBOLD.

tposed, on said bia', to remain'in the rangeof sationof"said"transformerhcore whereby iiuc- 55 RefereK-meg'ct in the me f this bt-nt 'leexterld beyendsad predetermined. value '65 2,363,898 Pai gtb N0v.2c,f=1944 6.. In, alternating current System for rro- 2,389,007 strange-en Y .-v.; Nova 13g-1945 te@time,a Sries capacitor 0f an energyrccnsut- 2,395,881 Klemperer Mares-:1946 inssystem ses t be ,having a pair of. main f J FOREIGN PATENTS 'electrqdes and anf'auxiliary electrode inter-Y y posedbetween said main electrodes,y said main 7o Number l-relcuntry parte lectrodes being connected in shunt with 303,742 `taly:.. f Dec; 115,- 1 932 

